Under general supervision, provides specialized health care services to students, including medically fragile or profoundly disabled students; administers first aid, dispenses prescribed medication to students, including injections to diabetic students, and performs other health related functions; maintains health records and orders health supplies; promotes the health of children; and performs other related duties as assigned.

The typical duties and employment standards are representative of positions within this classification. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the specific position.

Following written procedures from physician and/or school nurse, provides specialized health care services to students including, but not limited to: monitoring insulin dosages and blood sugar, and, where necessary, giving injections to diabetic students; accompanying diabetic or other students with special medical needs on field trips; tube feeding, catheterization, suctioning of tracheotomy tubes, changing of ostomy/colostomy bags; administering seizure medications, including both orally and rectally administered drugs; diapering and/or assisting children onto toilets, lifting and moving children on and off wheelchairs, toilets, and changing tables; applying and removing medical appliances, pushing wheelchairs; administering oxygen, doing postural drainage, etc.

Maintains daily records of specialized health care provided. Specialized health services are provided to both profoundly disabled and medically fragile children as well as children in regular education settings.

Attends to sick and injured students in the school health office; administers first aid.

Notifies parents or other authorized persons when children need to be sent home and/or may transport sick or injured students when necessary.

Administers/dispenses prescribed medications and devices such as inhalers to students, maintaining appropriate locked storage area; gives Epipen or other medications in emergencies to students with severe food or insect allergies; checks and rechecks students for pediculosis.

Brings health problems to the attention of appropriate administrator and, as directed, schedules or arranges for necessary conferences regarding health needs.

May conduct health education presentations or provide education on preventative care.

Maintains a variety of health and immunization records, follows up to ensure that students receive required immunizations or other assistance, and prepares required reports for District or Health Department; records data from health screening for nurses.

Orders supplies and ensures that health office is maintained in a secure and sanitary manner.

Assists in answering telephones or other general clerical duties as time permits.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Bilingual

In addition to the above duties, bilingual positions also translate orally and in writing, between English and a designated language. Answers inquiries and provides information on health and other school policies; may translate in meetings between Principal or other school staff and parents; translates other material such as health policies or procedures or Principal’s memoranda into designated language.

Licensed Vocational Nurses are licensed practical nurses performing specialized student medical care duties that involve specific written protocols and/or specialized training. The prior medical background is necessitated by the high consequence of error, in that some of the procedures are invasive in nature and/or some of the students have multiple or life threatening conditions. Incumbents may work at more than one school and/or may be called to assist at another site in the event of a health emergency or a need requiring the services of more than one individual.

The Medical Care Technician provides a variety of specialized health and physical care services to medically fragile students in an assigned classroom and, as necessary, assists with life skills, sensory motor integration and adaptive behavior training and specific physical care needs.

School Health Clerks provide clerical and basic health care support to students of a non-invasive nature. School Health Clerks may provide basic first aid services and handle minor emergencies. Incumbents may not perform duties that have a high consequence of error. Although, incumbents may see that children take regular or over the counter medications as directed. School Health Clerks are not authorized or qualified to administer medicines such as diastat or insulin or others of a more serious nature.

Knowledge of: Nursing practices, basic anatomy, symptoms indicating change in patient condition, care of the chronically ill and/or medically fragile patients; first aid and CPR procedures; emergency equipment, supplies, medical appliances and equipment and terminology related to student health programs; health and medical record keeping practices, State and Federal health and safety regulations including procedures related to blood borne pathogens; modern office practices.

Ability to: Exercise good judgment and remain calm in handling both minor and major emergency situations and specialized care procedures; apply medical training to emergency and other situations; learn complex medical procedures and follow such directions with absolute attention to detail; organize and prioritize work; demonstrate concern for the comfort and dignity of the child; speak clear, correct English; communicate effectively with students, parents and staff and maintain good relationships; assure confidentiality of medical information at all times; maintain accurate and complete student immunization and other health-related records; physically lift, move, and otherwise assist children with all of their physical care needs; enter data in an automated student information system. Bilingual positions must also be able to speak, read, and write correctly in a designated language in addition to English.

Essential Physical Activities and Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in the school health office, although the incumbent may also assist students in restrooms or other designated areas. Travel between sites and students’ homes may also be necessary occasionally. Work involves frequent exposure to blood and other body fluids and wastes, and is often performed under high stress emergency circumstances or with severely ill or disabled children.

Sufficient strength to lift, push, pull, or otherwise move students from preschool to middle school ages weighing up to 50 pounds, without assistance or over 50 pounds with assistance, according to the protocol determined by the Nurse. Ability to push wheelchairs, lift students on and off toilets and wheelchairs or other equipment, apply or remove braces and other appliances, and operate equipment such as for administering oxygen, suctioning trach tubes, administering IV medications, etc. Must be able to read, understand, and follow complex medical procedures, enter information on manual and automated records and reports; comprehend ordinary conversation; clearly explain medical situations and regulations to parents and others. Generally the job requires 50% sitting, 10% walking, and 40% standing.

Typical Background: Experience providing student health care in a special education class or a health office, or providing student or adult health care in a nursing facility, clinic, or hospital, is strongly preferred.

License and/or Certificates: A valid, current State license as an LVN or RN. A current certificate of proficiency in infant, child, and adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid, or a certificate in Basic Life Support, Healthcare Providers (BLS) issued by an authorized agency. A valid California driver’s license and use of an automobile with appropriate insurance limits for transporting children.

Qualifications: In order to be considered qualified for a vacancy in this classification, a candidate must possess the required background and successfully demonstrate such background, knowledge, skills and abilities through an examination process.

Approved by the Personnel Commission on November 20, 1997
Revised March 31 and December 17, 1998 (JW); approved by the Personnel Commission on 12/17/98
Revised May 15, 2003 JW; approved by the Personnel Commission on May 20, 2003
Revised March 14, 2005 JW; approved by the Personnel Commission on April 21, 2005
Revised 07/2009-AT; approved by the Personnel Commission on 07/23/2009
Revised 12/09/10. Revisions adopted by the Personnel Commission on December 16, 2010
Revised 2/2014. Approved by the Personnel Commission 02/27/2014
Revised Title Change 12/2021. Approved by the Personnel Commission 04/21/2022
Revised 10/2022-AL; Approved by Personnel Commission on 10/27/2022 Reallocation 10/2022